The proposed Mount Ashland Association ski area expansion is a corporate snow job, blowing a bitter wind in August; and the public has been given neither good science or any real supporting evidence to justify what is transpiring under our noses; nor even the real reasons why the ski area wants to expand into a pristine roadless area when there are five other documented MAA expansion plans that would cause little or no impact to the last and largest wilderness area of its kind in the Eastern Siskiyou Mountains.

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Northerly view of Middle Branch drainage below the Bowl on Mt. Ashland (extends down and slightly to right).
Proposed expansion would clear-cut runs and lift lines into this pristine wilderness
which supplies Ashland with its drinking water.
There is currently no human development or grazing at all in this watershed.
Photo Credit: Wild Mount Ashland www.mountashland.com/info/photos.html

The proposed expansion plans include over a mile of new roads, 70 acres of clear cut logging, and construction of numerous buildings and facilities, cut and built deep into this roadless area, fragmenting its ecological diversity and potentially de-listing it for possible federal protection as a designated Wilderness Area. The proposed road and a bridge punched into the highly sensitive wetlands of the upper Middle Fork of Ashland Creek would forever damage the mother source of the municipal water supply for the city of Ashland, and the springs from which our relatively incomparable Ashland Creek flows so sweetly through the center of the city.

This is our living water.

I would like to take our city council on a hike into the pristine roadless wilderness area where the proposed ski area expansion could take place, so they can see how spectacular and fragile the land is in there; and perhaps they then might understand how short sighted they have been to relinquish the special use permit to the MAA; knowing also that this act is the latest unconscionable step in a thinly disguised strategy to cut a road into the area and log the old growth timber. It's all about the money. Even if the ski area fails, the road is in and the timber can be harvested; and those trees are the asset they're really after. That, and perhaps even our water.

The proposed ski area expansion is a cover up.

Plans provide for the clear cut logging of irreplaceable old growth timber, allegedly worth millions of dollars. The forest Service couldn't go in there if not for the ski area leading the way with their request for an expansion of their existing recreational area. The habitat is far too sensitive, and the environmental impact will be insurmountable. In its 2004 decision, even the Forest Service stated that ‘it is not possible to limit soil disturbance below allowed thresholds in the course of ski area development.’

The federally inventoried 10,000 acre McDonald Peak roadless area is a pristine ancient forest ecosystem, home to such rare species as the Pacific Fisher and the Southernmost range of old growth Engleman Spruce. This area is ecologically very fragile, but there’s some big trees in there, trees who are in community with the Earth, and who hold the soil in their loving embrace. It’s a hideous travesty, to cut those ancient and irreplaceable old growth trees and disturb that pristine habitat, which is the source of Ashland's water.

To give some historical background for the proposal, in 1998, the Mount Ashland Association (MAA) filed plans for an expansion of existing facilities down slope of the existing ski area, in the middle branch of the East Fork of Ashland Creek. Local conservationists objected to the plan, citing concerns about soil erosion and runoff into the streams and wetlands of the City of Ashland's municipal watershed, as well as concerns for old growth forest, the Federal status of the McDonald Peak Inventoried Roadless Area, and endangered wildlife.

In December 2004, the United States Forest Service approved the MAA proposal, including a new chairlift accessing an additional 72 acres of intermediate and expert terrain, 200 more parking spaces, and a second ski lodge at the bottom of the glacial cirque known as ‘the Bowl.’ The Forest Service received 28 notices of appeal, all of which were denied.

In January 2005, three organizations - Oregon Natural Resources Council, Headwaters, the Sierra Club, and one individual (Eric Navickas) sued USFS in U.S. District Court, alleging that the decision violated the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  U.S. magistrate Owen Panner sided with the Forest Service and issued a summary judgment denying the lawsuits in February 2007, noting, “You cannot make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.”

Judge Panner’s aphorism is originally attributed to Robespierre, who is one of the most famous and influential figures of the French Revolution of 1789.  He largely dominated the ‘Committee of Public Safety,’ which sounds to me like something the U.S. Government is likely to create any day now.  Robespierre was instrumental in the period of the Revolution now commonly known as the Reign of Terror, marked by mass executions via the guillotine, which the French affectionately called the ‘National Razor.’  I suppose Mr. Panner might call it just another form of clear cutting.

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Mount Ashland Today (Photo 1)
Simulation of Proposed Expansion (Photo 2)
Photo Credit: Wild Mount Ashland www.mountashland.com/info/photos.html

The above aerial photos illustrate the scope of the proposed expansion, which will impact the highly sensitive wetlands of the upper Middle Fork of the Ashland Creek drainage, and forever spoil the mother source of the municipal water supply for the city of Ashland.

ONRC (Oregon Natural Resources Council - now Oregon Wild), Headwaters (OHRC, the Oregon Headwaters Research Cooperative, formed to address the need for focused research on small headwater streams), and the Sierra Club together appealed Panner’s judgment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, pending review; which is ongoing. The three-judge appellate panel cited a likelihood of irreparable harm to the Pacific Fisher, a rare forest carnivore known to live in the Ashland Creek watershed. The USFS classifies the Fisher as ‘sensitive,’ whereas the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers it to be endangered.

In September 2007, the appellate court ruled that USFS violated the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in four ways when it approved the MAA expansion.  First, the court noted USFS failure to substantiate its assertion that expansion would not harm the Pacific Fisher.  The expansion was in violation of the 1990 Rogue River National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), which cites a requirement for proposed development to base its analysis on thorough study of sensitive wildlife known to exist at the sites. 

Second, the court ruled that USFS overlooked adverse cumulative environmental effects resulting from development in a roadless forest corridor of significant biological importance, linking the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains with the Cascade Mountains; as well as the impact of other concurrent forest management activities planned nearby.

Third, the court rejected as unreasonable the USFS claims that known landslides should be excluded from riparian (river) reserve studies under the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan.  It noted significant consequences to the City of Ashland’s watershed, resulting from erroneous USFS agency interpretation of riparian management criteria.  To the author, this seems to border on fraud.

Finally, the court found that 35 acres which USFS approved for development are in fact deserving of a designation as a restricted watershed area under the 1990 Rogue River National Forest LRMP (Resource Management Plan). That designation limits allowable soil disturbance caused by management activities.

Despite all this evidence and the court rulings, on Tuesday August 30th the Ashland City Council voted 5-1 in favor of relinquishing the Mount Ashland Association special use permit to the MAA itself, effectively surrendering sovereignty of our water supply. Instead, they gave legal control of our watershed to a private corporation that does not necessarily have our best interests at heart.

I spoke at the August 30 meeting myself, along with about 100 others, 85 of whom were passionately against giving up the SUP (special use permit). Of the 15 who spoke up in favor of relinquishing the permit, more than half were board members of the Mount Ashland Association, which means they were paid sycophants who were acting in their own self interest. And despite this overwhelming public sentiment voiced at the meeting, the council voted against the public will. There were stipulations made, but the city councils’ proposed concessions were miniscule and vaguely patronizing, and none of their language is likely to save the old growth timber or the sanctity of our watershed.

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Alpine meadow through which runs the creek that is the mother of the Ashland watershed.
The elevation here is about 5,000 ft., and the site is reminiscent of the Garden of Eden.
Photo Credit: Bruce Wright.

Even at the local level, ours is a form of government that simply does not function as it is meant to, unless you believe the law is created to benefit corporations and the business community - rather than the people.

The system does not work.

The question now is what can be done to overturn this ignorant and shortsighted vote by six people who have made a decision that will affect all 21,000 residents + 3500 students + thousands of annual visitors + our childrens, childrens, children?

On the city of Ashland’s website, the city council endorses the ‘Valdez Principles.’ By endorsing these Principles, the website officially states, “we publicly affirm our belief that the City of Ashland, Oregon, has a direct responsibility for the environment. We believe that we must conduct the public's business as responsible stewards of the environment, and seek goals only in a manner that leaves the Earth healthy and safe. We believe that the City must not compromise the ability of future generations to sustain their needs.

“We recognize this to be a long-term commitment to update our practices continually in light of advances in technology and new understandings in health and environmental science. We intend to make consistent, measurable progress toward the ideal that these principles describe, and to apply them wherever we operate, in a manner consistent with our other obligations under law.

1. Protection of the Biosphere.
   We will minimize and strive to eliminate the release of any pollutant that may cause environmental damage to air, water, or earth or its inhabitants. We will safeguard habitats in creeks, ponds, wetlands, natural areas, and will minimize contributing to global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rain, or smog.
2. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.
   We will make sustainable use of renewable natural resources, such as water, soils and forests. We will conserve nonrenewable natural resources through efficient use and careful planning. We will protect wildlife habitat, open spaces, and wilderness, while preserving biodiversity.
3. Reduction and Disposal of Waste.
   We will minimize the creation of waste, and wherever possible, recycle materials. We will dispose of all wastes through safe and responsible methods.
4. Wise Use of Energy.
   We will make every effort to use environmentally safe and sustainable energy sources to meet our needs. We will invest in and promote energy efficiency and conservation in our operations and that of our citizens.
5. Risk Reduction.
   We will minimize the environmental, health and safety risks to our employees and the communities in which we operate by employing safe technologies and operating procedures and by being constantly prepared for emergencies.
6. Safe Products and Services.
   We will provide services that minimize adverse environmental impacts and that are safe for consumers. We will inform consumers of the environmental impacts of our services.
7. Damage Compensation.
   We will take responsibility for any harm we cause to the environment by making every effort to fully restore the environment and to compensate those persons who are adversely affected.
8. Disclosure.
   We will disclose to our employees and to the public incidents relating to our operations that cause environmental harm or pose health or safety hazards. We will disclose potential environmental, health, or safety hazards posed by our operations, and we will not take any action against employees who report any condition that creates a danger to the environment or poses health and safety hazards.
9. Environmental Directors and Managers.
   At least one member of management will be a person qualified to represent environmental interests, and will commit management resources to implement these Principles.
10. Annual Assessment.
    We will conduct and make public an annual self-evaluation of our progress in implementing these Principles and in complying with all applicable laws and regulations. Endorsed by the Ashland City Council - May 15, 1990.

Source: These ten points were copied directly off the City of Ashland website: www.ashland.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=614

The City of Ashland has obtained water from the Ashland Creek Watershed since the early 1880's.

In 1893, the watershed was proclaimed a Federal Reserve, legally making it off limits to logging and development. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt enlarged the Reserve to its current size at 14,400 acres in order to provide better protection for the City's valuable water supply. In 1928, Reeder Reservoir was created at the confluence of the east and west forks of Ashland Creek, providing the City with a capacity of 280,000,000 gallons.

This watershed is currently managed by the Rogue River National Forest Service, with additional oversight provided by the USDA, the City of Ashland, and the Department of Environmental Quality. In addition, the Oregon State Dept. of Forestry has broad authority over activities on all forests through the Forests Practices Act. This act has provisions relative to protection of water quality in streams throughout the country. However, prior to this menagerie of regulatory agencies, vast areas of the West were protected as public lands under a single system known as the US Forest Reserve System, which was greatly strengthened under the Roosevelt administration, partly in response to what he saw as the rapacious logging of the eastern forests. The original Forest Reserve Rangers principal job was to patrol the forests, prevent illegal logging, and protect watersheds.

In 1905, the U.S. Forest Service was created under heavy lobbying pressure from powerful timber corporations who wanted access to the virgin forests on public lands. The Forest Service then became the official arm of the corporate timber industry, and the USFS mission was not only to provide resource protection and recreation, but timber extraction; and the current harvest of 1.5 billion trees per year.

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The pure source of Ashland Creek.
Photo by the author, who got on his knees and drank directly from the source,
and filled his water jug with this pure, sparkling untreated creek water,
which is the fountainhead of Reeder Reservoir.

In 1955, in complete refute of earlier conservation doctrine, the Ashland Watershed was opened up to ‘Multiple Use Management,’ which led to logging and road building in earnest. In 1964, the Ashland Ski Area was opened to development of 183 acres; and by 1965, approximately 40 miles of roads were constructed, and 1,000 acres were commercially logged; accounting for 10% of the total watershed, which contributed to an enormous increase in erosion.

I don't think MAA can be trusted to do what’s right and good for the city of Ashland. They'll do what will be good and profitable for the MAA. Because of the city council vote, the quality of life here in Ashland has been relinquished to private interests, and perhaps severely compromised.

According to a 1977 Water Resources Management Study conducted by the City of Ashland and numerous other multi disciplinary agencies, “prior to this intrusion into the watershed, annual sediment loads in upstream basins and Reeder Reservoir were only 1,200 cubic yards. Following the construction of the existing ski area, annual sediment loads reached upwards of 70,000 to 122,000 cubic yards annually, with heavy financial cost to the City of Ashland to dredge these sediment loads out of Reeder Reservoir.”

Because of the high volume of material and exorbitant trucking costs, these sediment loads are taken only a short ways downstream and ‘sluiced’ back into Ashland creek, with consequent heavy damage to Fisheries and the entire aquatic ecosystem, eventually ending up in Bear Creek and the Rogue River; a practice which violated Rogue River Basin water quality standards on numerous occasions. This 1977 study offers the empirical facts and documentation to conclude that the two principal agencies most responsible for irreversible damage to the Ashland Watershed are the U.S. Forest Service and the Mount Ashland Association ski area. These are the very same entities in the vanguard of those who are now pushing for more development.

And I wonder, who is behind them, pulling the strings? Our own city council has just voted to give up the sovereignty for our watershed, despite their own published 'Valdez Principles." It all seems too suspicious.

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The cradle of vegetation holding space for our watershed. Photo by the author.
It’s a steep pitch here in the forest, still hiking in to the heart of the watershed.
This is a rigorous hike at times; and you can slip.
There's no question that erosion is a substantial factor in this environment.
The trees are all that's holding us up. When you get to the meadow, everything opens into that lovely alpine garden,
where the waters run pure and your spirit sings like the birds of the field.

In 2010, there was a study conducted by the USDA, the Environmental Impact Statement for the (proposed) Mount Ashland ski area Expansion, which is chock full of information that causes me to be even more mystified by the city council's decision to give up the Special Use Permit.

On November 4, 2003 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) submitted its formal comments on the Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS is the guiding document outlining how, when, and if a ski area expansion will take place. Here’s a very short analysis of that report:

The EPA does not support Ski Ashland's proposed expansion (known as Alternative 2 in the DEIS) or the US Forest Service's slightly modified “preferred alternative” (known as Alternative 6). The EPA is concerned that ski area expansion will result in (1) increased erosion in the Ashland watershed, (2) negatively impact both Ashland and Cottonwood Creeks, (3) reduce water supply in critical summer months, and (4) risk violating provisions of the Northwest Forest Plan.

The EPA continues to recommend a smaller scale expansion that does not cross or violate the pristine Middle Branch watershed.  In effect, the EPA has endorsed the ‘Community Alternative,’ ie. expansion into a different area (not in the watershed) put forth by local skiers and snowboarders as an environmentally sustainable expansion for Mount Ashland.

I encourage everyone to read the full text of the EPA's report. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue-siskiyou/projects/mtashlandski/dseis.pdf

It’s easy to see why people are confused. Now it’s September, and there’s rumors that the logging could begin any day now, despite a pending lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club, and a potential injunction, along with the ongoing litigation apparently in suspended animation in the Federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. If they cut a logging road into the area, it will be impossible to undo the damage caused. There is no such thing as a ‘good road’ encroaching into our watershed. A logging road will forever threaten the valuable old growth timber, which will always be vulnerable to future encroachment, intrusion, and invasion. There’s even rumors floating around that a major multinational corporation is coveting our water. The corporation in question is extremely predatory, guilty of monstrous deception and destruction; and they have already caused irreparable damage to other water supplies in their unquenchable thirst for pirated resources and profit.

God help us if the rumors are true.

It is vitally important to make certain there are no roads cut or logging allowed until this issue is heard in the Federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, who will hopefully address the science, and the facts. However, the law has loopholes, and the mobsters who play this game are brutally influential, and all but invisible; while they move ahead with their calculated madness.

To understand the truth, and intuit the reasons for what passes for the truth, we must sort through the subtleties and discern the intrigue within the intrigue within the obvious and the faux and slight of hand that is always present and so carefully crafted by those who have something to gain, and so extremely adept at the game; yet deeply hidden within the talk and the speeches and the votes and the unknowns and the passion and propaganda.

We, the people, are not well equipped to deal with the relentless power of these mobsters; and neither are the trees, who do not get to vote.

If Trees Could Walk

If trees could walk, I think they'd run,

and run; and run from the saw

and the greed that brings those blades to bear.

If fish could talk, they'd tell us

what we already know, but refuse to acknowledge,

and are loathe to give up,

so self absorbed have we become.

If birds could write poetry,

Rumi would fly out of the forest,

along with the trees;

fleeing the saws and the static;

and Wordsworth would roost in our yards,

and sing to us in a language we understand,

as once we heard them All,

and knew these precious beings as our family;

and ourselves as but one of the congregation.

If only the music would come true

All mankind would listen

when the endless universe

and our Mother Earth

speaks Her eloquence to you.

This is why I hike into places like the alpine meadow in the wild watershed, and drink from the fountainhead. When you are amongst the community of trees, you deepen in to your spiritual center. There you have the opportunity to rest, and listen to the precious quietude; and then, you come out into this expansive, wild meadow, where one can get lost in a moment...

I hear this sweet refrain, heartbeat of the planet; and sing like the mockingbird from atop the TV antenna, glibly mimicking songs of those who are no longer in the wood; birds he once knew; birds whose song he has not forgotten; those who are gone now, vanquished by human progress. The mockingbird’s lyrics are so sweet and upbeat that if we do not listen closely, we are unaware of his message.

Love the Day

Love the day

love the day

love the day...

Where is the tanager?

Where is the thrush?

Where is the bluebird

Who sang in the brush?

Where have they gone?

I miss their sweet song.

Love the day

love the day

love the day...

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Upcoming Events: Guides will take you into the proposed MAA expansion area on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at 10 AM. We meet in the parking lot at Culture Works. Please take one of the guided hikes into this lovely habitat and see it for yourself. You'll be amazed at how beautiful and fragile it is, and you will be touched and inspired by the pristine community of trees and plants and living waters who thrive there, and lovingly create that exquisite, unblemished terrain.

There will be another public forum on the MAA expansion proposal, to be held on Sept. 14th at SOU, in Stevenson Union at 6:30 pm. (3,900 words)

Author's Note: This issue cannot be contained in a standard column or 'letter to the editor.' I am a former newspaper columnist, now a novelist, writing about similar environmental issues and the social and spiritual consequences of humanity’s stewardship of the living Earth. This is not fiction.

Submitted by W. Bruce Wright: 301 Wimer Street • Ashland, O. 97520 • wbrucewright@yahoo.com